After a rather circuitous transfer, the Young Dragons gained temporary, long-lost freedom.
The Red Dragon and the other Young Dragons were released from their cages and allowed to move freely in a garden.
The garden was overgrown with flowers and plants, but there were no guards.
Even those who came to feed the Young Dragons were just some seemingly weak humans; they didn't even wear armor or weapons.
If it were before, the impulsive Klenaya would probably have incited Kalon and the other Young Dragons to rush out, and the other Young Dragons would have gladly agreed.
But these Young Dragons, like Kalon, simply gathered quietly, silently observing every person who came and went.
Experience brings wisdom, and trials make a person mature.
So what was the price? Their freedom.
This was the Emperor's palace in the Catha Empire, perhaps safer than most places in the world, but for the Young Dragons, it was more dangerous than most places in the world.
From the occasional conversations heard outside the garden, Kalon roughly understood that the Catha Empire's National Day was approaching.
Unlike the decision of the merchant Aiersu, this group of Young Dragons was shrewdly presented by William Clarence to the Emperor as a celebration, to be displayed on National Day to propagate the Empire's military might and martial spirit.
Kalon lay in the middle, surrounded by the Dragon Clan, his warm body seemingly giving the Young Dragons the strength to no longer fear.
The Red Dragon sometimes scanned the gradually calming faces of these Young Dragons and could feel the Dragon Clan's fire deeply hidden in their hearts; the deeper it was suppressed, the more fiercely it would erupt when released.
Sometimes the Red Dragon would wonder what would happen if he prayed to Tiamat, the Evil Dragon Goddess, or Bahamut, the Good Dragon Clan God, but then he thought of the Evil Dragons who died under the Dragon Clan Slayers' blades and immediately felt it was pointless.
In this era where true gods do not appear, Dragon Clans still had to rely on themselves.
No wonder Carlit and Akzi never showed any prayer or reverence towards Tiamat, the Evil Dragon Goddess, before; Kalon's irreverence and fearlessness of gods were innate, and these Evil Dragons also didn't believe in gods, which explained some issues.
"Uncle Kyle, are those terrifying Dragon Clans inside?" A somewhat joyful child's voice, tender and lively, came from the high wall.
"Yes, but these True Dragon are still Young Dragons, and they only look terrifying; with me by your side, you don't need to worry, Princess Leah!"
A deep, rough voice accompanied the opening of the heavy courtyard gate, and a tall middle-aged man holding a golden-haired little girl walked in.
The little girl's round eyes were full of curiosity, mixed with a little fear, and her long golden hair, tied into two braids, swung as she tilted her head to look at the Young Dragons lazily lying on the ground.
The tall man, dressed in black iron armor and about two meters tall, had a chiseled face full of doting affection for the child, but no extra curiosity towards the Young Dragons; he merely glanced at them before turning his gaze back to the child.
"Wow, these True Dragon look so beautiful, they're so well-behaved!" The lively and adorable Leah seemed eager, her round face smiling as she stood on her chubby little legs.
A pair of fleshy little hands tremblingly reached out towards the quiet Young Dragons; the relatively brilliant scales of the Red Dragon and Green Dragon were deeply loved by the little girl, much more beautiful than the gems her father gave her.
"Don't be afraid, Princess Leah, no matter how noble these True Dragon once were, now they are just like those Orcs and Elves, our spoils of war; no matter what you do, they dare not resist." Kyle looked at the Young Dragons with a faint gaze, his eyes clearly conveying threat and warning.
"Mm! these Ture Dragon aren't so scary, it's just Leah who's scared." The little girl bravely extended her hand, wanting to stroke the Red Dragon's scales.
Kalon shifted his body, leaving only his rear facing the little girl.
"Uncle Kyle, this Dragon Clan doesn't want me to touch him, it seems they don't like me, let's go!" Leah's eyes glimmered with tears, on the verge of crying.
Kyle nodded, picked up the noble Princess, and stepped out of the garden.
Thus, in peaceful and boring days, the Catha Empire's National Day arrived.
The clamor outside was unrelated to the Young Dragons until they were brought by fully armed warriors, their wings chained, to the grand hall of the palace.
Many nobles in luxurious attire were drinking and making merry, among them envoys from various duchies and kingdoms bordering the Catha Empire; even the southernmost human kingdom had sent envoys here to celebrate the Catha Empire's birthday.
Regardless of their true thoughts, these noble envoys all wore smiling faces.
After all, the supreme ruler of this Empire, Emperor Charaire Caesar II, sat on his imperial throne, looking down upon the subjects under his rule.
Charaire Caesar was a Legend of the Empire, and also a Legendary figure; at least in the lands he ruled, he was equivalent to a Legend.
Since he ascended to power, he expanded the former Catha Duchy into the vast Catha Empire of today, with twenty-six provinces, ambitious externally and militarily strong.
Internally, he suppressed all the noble lords under him, making some originally powerful noble lords gasp for breath; the entire Empire was under his control, possessing supreme authority, and even those noble mages had to submit to his rule; every mage had to obey his supreme power.
Those low-level mages, wanting to take on a true apprentice, also had to apply and register with the Empire's administrative departments.
And with the expansion of his ruled territory, his own strength also advanced from a mid-level Transcendent to the peak of the Saint Domain, and in his Empire, his strength was enough to contend with a Legend.
It was such a powerful Emperor, sitting high on the throne, looking at the true Dragons being led in; although there was no joyful fluctuation in his eyes, a slight smile appeared on his face.
He raised his spirits, lifted his right hand to signal, "Look, these are the noble True Dragons, now my spoils of war! This is the best gift presented to me by my loyal Viscount Will Clarence, the current Commander of the Knights!"
William Clarence stood up from the banquet, gracefully accepting the congratulations of the surrounding nobles, and bowed to the Emperor.
Kalon watched with cold eyes; in his perception, the Emperor's gaze upon him was like his subconscious view overlooking everything in his mental sea, seemingly omnipresent, but the powerful spirit seemed to fluctuate slightly.
"Kneel,you True Dragons, salute the Emperor." The armored guards holding the Young Dragons kicked their forelegs, pulling the constantly tugging iron chains.
Kalon stepped forward slightly, spreading his broad wings to perform the noble chest-clasping salute, then said loudly: "Powerful Human Emperor,we True Dragons are also noble intelligent beings, how can you treat Dragon Clans like those unintelligent savage beasts? I demand the right to equal and free communication."
Kalon knew that human nobles, when holding an advantage, always paid attention to maintaining their so-called posture and demeanor, so he tried to use a noble-style communication to probe.
"Interesting," a hint of interest appeared in the Emperor's eyes; no matter how perfect, noble, or powerful true Dragons were in the eyes of mortals, in the eyes of these high-and-mighty humans with power and strength, they were merely savage magical beasts with power.
Although in the eyes of true Dragons, they were far nobler than any other race in the world.
Emperor Charaire Caesar II smiled without hesitation, "You want the right to free and equal communication? Very well, then let's follow the Empire's rules: defeated captives can enter the Empire's gladiatorial arena; as long as you and these Young Dragons can win one hundred victories, I will grant you the right to freedom and equality."
The Emperor smiled and said to a noble below him, "Lord Rebus, I leave this matter to you; I hope you can bring me a satisfactory harvest."
This Emperor not only maintained his demeanor but also threw the Dragon Clans into the gladiatorial arena to fight like beasts, showcasing his majesty.
The Empire's gladiatorial arena, where there was never any truly equal combat; as long as there was a gimmick, they could arrange a Kobold to fight an Ogre.
To achieve one hundred victories required not only strength but also luck.
Moreover, Kalon knew human methods well; if it were him, others would never be able to win the one hundredth gladiatorial match.
But even so, Kalon felt that this attempt was successful; the pessimist stands on undefeated ground, only the optimist has the possibility of success; his attempt was a prelude to success.
As for those humiliations, the Dragon Clan would not forget!